What NOT to Pack!

This post is inspired by my “Unexpected Things You NEED for a Summer Trip” post. You can read it here.

Today, I am going to be telling you what NOT to pack. This may also be useful if you are going off to college soon!

What Not to Bring:

Too many books: I brought six books with me to Spain and hardly read any of them. They ended up being just a heavy waste of space. While it’s a good idea to bring some reading material, any more than one or two books can be too many. If you want to read more, download books onto your phone or device to save luggage space.

Too much makeup: Girls, I know it can be hard not to take your entire makeup collection with you because “what if I need it?” But, usually you don’t end up using half of the makeup you bring. Stick to the basics and find travel-friendly packaging that will fit easily into one cosmetic bag.

A hairdryer: I know that hotel hairdryers usually suck, but a large, heavy hairdryer can be too much to travel with. Consider air-drying or towel-drying your hair to avoid packing this device.

Full-size toiletries: There are travel sizes on the market; use them. There’s no need to bring a full-size shampoo on a one-week trip.

An outfit for every day: Instead of packing ten outfits for ten days, bring pieces you can mix and match to create new outfits with the same clothing. And, keep in mind, you’ll probably be shopping at your destination.

Towels: If you’re staying in a hotel, there’s no reason to bring more towels with you- unless you’re going to the beach. Hotels can charge fees if you bring back sandy towels. However, no beach, no problem- leave the towels at home.

Pillows: Carrying around a big neck pillow can be bothersome on a trip. Instead, bring a thin blanket that you can fold to use as a pillow on the plane. It’s easier to pack and can have multiple functions: from a beach throw to a warm layer to a pillow.

Too much food: We all go a little crazy packing our travel snacks. It’s a good idea to bring a few things to snack on from time to time, but keep in mind that generally you will be eating out and at your hotel. I always end up having an excess of food. Usually a large Ziploc bag is plenty.

Travel guides: Because of the Internet, there isn’t much of a need for maps, travel guides, and history books. You can find all of this information via travel blogs online.

Precious jewelry: Leave your best pearls at home. It’s very easy to lose track of items when traveling, not to mention that your baggage can be lost when you fly. Your safest bet is to leave your diamonds behind, safe and sound at home.